I have some nice ligths with 4000K hi CRI, but since I tried Wurkkos FC11 2700K LH351D I am ready for another 2700K.
My next light will be D4V2 and it has 3 options:
SST20
E21A
XPL-HI T6 8B (2850K)
I dont think I am tint snob, but I dont like greenish or bluish lights. Basically I want to know is there noticeable difference between SST20 and E21A in tint, because there should be noticeable difference in light output (3x more lumens for SST20?) and more throw (good, because will use it outdoors too).
XPL-HI is probably not an option because of lower CRI, but if someone have it, feel free to share your thoughts.
I love warm light. I have D4V2 flashlights with all of these leds:
E21A 2700K R9080
XP-L HI T6 8B (2850K) CRI90
SST-20 2700K
E21A 2700K R9080 looks the best, by far, probably because it has the highest R9. It doesn’t look green at any ramp level.
XP-L HI T6 8B (2850K) CRI90 is actually high CRI. 8B is a tint above BBL, but I don’t perceive the light as green while using it. It does look green next to E21A 2700K R9080. Colors look great, and tint does not change with ramp level.
Lee Zircon minus green filters work really well on XP-L HI T6 8B (2850K) CRI90. Add a Lee Zircon 802 filter, and suddenly this led has a very pleasant rosy tint at all ramp levels. This is the perfect led for demonstrating the difference between rosy “below BBL” and greenish “above BBL” tint. Everyone that has a flashlight with this led should try using a Lee Zircon 802 filter with it.
SST-20 2700K does not have 3x as many lumens as E21A 2700K R9080. It is probably around 2x lumens, but only for a short amount of time, and then it has to ramp down due to heat. 2x difference in lumens is noticeable, but it is not a big difference. You can verify that if you have 2 identical flashlights and try using them both at the same time. I would not let that affect your decision.
SST-20 2700K is a good high CRI led, and Hank’s SST-20 2700K is quite rosy on turbo. Tint does change with ramp level, and lower levels look green when compared to turbo. I really liked this led until I tried the other 2, and I still like it, but I prefer XP-L HI T6 8B (2850K) CRI90 with Lee Zircon 802 filter.
I have to agree with the others. The 2700K E21A R9080 has about the nicest tint thanks to that high R9. I also have the SST-20 2700K, and I still appreciate my lights that have it.
I’m curious if anyone has taken a spectrometer to Hank’s 2700K E21A batch.
E21A is super nice as others have said but its ‘weak’ compared to the XPL/SST options for throw and general output.
Depending on your use case this might be OK. I use E21A for general EDC, indoor, basic footpath walking, unoffensive use of a flashlight in populated areas, cafes, restaurants, bars, etc.
I love the 2700K LH351D. It is a bit floody compared to SST or XP, but it is sweet. I do not have it in the light that OP wants to get, but if it were available, that would be the version I would get.
I just got LH351D on a Convoy S12 yesterday. Turned it on, not impressed at all. Too yellow but I’m the kind that loves warm tints. It is just so much yellower than SST20 2700k on my Convoy S2+, also a bit warmer than it. Compared to my 2700k household LED bulb LH351D 2700k is just yellower.
I then put a minus green (1/8) and dc-fix on top of it. It then becomes a so much better tint than sst20. My E21A 2000/2700k mix light will arrive soon and I’ll see how LH351D with minus green compares to that. (I couldn’t get XPL-HI T6 8B on a light anywhere so that’s why I tried LH351D)